Or maybe I should say street parties. We only saw the one nearest our hotel, at Invalides and the Pont Alexandre III bridge, but they were all over the city.
Nuit Blanche is when museums are open all night and the streets are filled with musical performances, performance art, art installations and people.
Oh, tons of people. Rick said hundreds of thousands. I think he was overestimating for our immediate area (definitely thousands, though), but in terms of Paris proper and all the celebrations, that's probably an underestimate!
When we came out of the metro our ears were hit by loud music and often flashing lights. We saw street yoga, funky art installations and a mass of lights and people.
We decided we'd hit the nearby Petit Palais, which was open. I was glad we did.
Built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, this art museum is an elegant Beaux-Arts style building with stately columns and elegant ceilings. It is across the street from Paris' Grand Palais and the steps leading to its entrance are impressive.
One of my favorite elements of this building was a beautiful courtyard. Because we were there in the evening the photos don't do it justice. Pairs of columns flank the courtyard and I suspect more than a few visitors take a break from the museum to enjoy it.
The ceilings were works of art in themselves.
Even the corridors had a striking element of grandeur and simplicity.
The exhibition space for the sculpture expo by Paul Roussel was striking with high ceilings and wonderful light.
I really liked his work. These life-sized statues spoke to me with their depiction of simple daily tasks, such as a mother and child...
...and a woman with a book.
A wonderful video showed how the exhibition was prepared.
It also includes a good deal of two dimensional art.
I regret we didn't see more of this beautiful spot. Chalk it up to a long day and very bad feet.
Besides, we had big plans for the next day!
And my feet were DONE!
41 comments:
Now that sounds like a night to remember, how wonderful! What fantastic sights you got to see, lucky you! You certainly had a memorable time in Paris. We have a Museum Night in Düsseldorf, too, and for just a few Euros you can visit everything. Things like this are such a great idea. Hugs, Valerie
Crowds, loud music and flashing lights. Seem like three perfectly good reasons to avoid cities......even Paris.
What a fantastic experience! Thanks for sharing these great pics - I haven't been to Europe yet, hoping for some day. For now I'll enjoin pictures and descriptions like yours.
Jeanne... I love your night shots. Just beautiful. Have a wonderful week!
A tremendous exhibition of art!! Sorry about the feet. Mine do the same.
No one does art preservation as well as Paris...well, not entirely true compared to Rome and Egypt but Paris is as much a mecca for art lovers and artists as it is a state of mind that the street parties sure exemplifies. What a wonderful trip you had!
Hello, sounds like an exciting evening in Paris. Almost like a huge party, the museum images are gorgeous. Love the art work and statues. The river scene is pretty at night. Thanks for sharing your visit. Wonderful photos. Enjoy your day, have a great new week!
The Petit Palais is incredible!
Nuit Blanche has been done here as well, but not for a couple of years now.
I BET your feet were done and I think my eyeballs would be tired, too. So many things to see!
I couldn't take my eyes off the woman with the book sculpture. She looks calm and yet intense in her reading. Matisse and Picaso have beautiful paintings on the topic of a woman reading.
I have never heard of this all night party, but what fun. The museum sounds and looks amazing too. For some reason I have not been there. Now for sure I must go back. Ahhh! how I wish I could have been there to dance in the street.
Fabulous night in Paris. I love it ♥
Id never heard of Nuit Blanche but wow, what a celebration. There seems to be a lot of people in the museum too. I guess most everyone had the next day off? Did you know about this or was it a surprise find? What a cool thing to experience. Hugs-Erika
What a fun event to witness, Jeanie! The sculptures inside the Petit Palais were gorgeous! I can sympathize about your feet--I need bunion surgery on one foot and it always acts up when I walk a lot.
There is so much to see and do in Paris. I was just wondering what it would be like to live there for a year. Can you imagine? Wouldn’t it be wonderful. I would be out at the museums and shops and cafes every single day.
You came upon a huge celebration and nothing beats that in my book! I could explore a city like this forever. I really need to go back and see if you have previous posts, I've been slacking off in blogging. But---you were living my dream!
Love and hugs, Jeanie!
Jane
This sounds just "awesome". Or plain "wow"! :-)
Wonderful.
Also because it was without any nasty incident. These days... I am glad people still dare to gather like this!
The first pic just filled me with joy, but that entrance is a bummer! It´s just perfect! I think I´d gotten stuck there ;-) Do you have close ups?
Thank you for sharing.
That's incredible! Did you plan ahead to be there for that night, or was it just a happy coincidence? -Jenn
I had no idea they did this. What a wonderful thing to do!
What wonderful experiences you had!
And the street parties- how interesting-
plus museums staying open all night!
So much excitement and beauty - thanks for sharing your adventures!
Ah! My favorite spot along the Champs-Élysées! Both museums are so romantic, florid, extravagantly designed and decorated and so ... French! I actually prefer the Petit Palais to the Grand Palais; perhaps because it's smaller and I can relate to being a part of it while I'm there, as opposed to 'invading' it - which is the way I often feel at the Louvre and/or the Grand Palais...too big, too grand, too officious, too everything to be really comfortable.
I've never been in Paris for the street parties. Must be fun. I've been a fan of dancing with strangers since college LOL.
Thanks for sharing - looking forward to your next adventure!
Wow, what an experience, I haven't heard of this Paris event, it sounds amazing! The museums must be breathtaking, and being able to see the fabulous art in person must really be breathtaking. You had a trip of a life time, especially for an artist!
Jenna
The photos of the museum are lovely -- both the building and the exhibit -- but as for those crowds? You can count me out. The last time I was in the middle of something like that was Mardi Gras in Galveston, in about 1995, and even then, a decade younger, I said, "Get me out of here!" Crowds in the country, like at the Christmas bonfires on the levee in Louisiana, are fine, but jammed urban streets are just unpleasant. Still, it would be a night to remember, and it's fun to see -- through your lens, not mine!
I love seeing a vibrant yet controlled nightlife experience. What a scene to be able to be immersed in. So sorry your feet gave you trouble. That had to be frustrating. Love seeing the museum photos.
My feet would have been done after all that too! Sounds like it was worth it though.
I am enjoying your Paris series, Jeanie. Oh, those statues are beautiful. Nel would love the woman with a book, as she reads and reads. The Eiffel lit up at night is something else. What a charming picture of the crowds and the cars and the Eiffel in the distance. Petit Palais is gorgeous; look at those ceilings! I look forward to seeing more Paris through your lens, Jeanie.
~Sheri
That is certainly something I would enjoy, and in Paris no less! How wonderful that you could experience this, but I also understand that your feet were done. Big cities in Europe do that to you because you walk and walk and walk and ...
Jeanie, you certainly got to see some beautiful sights and sounds. Glad you are safe at home now..Happy Tuesday..xxoJudy
The street parties sound fun! Somehow when your feet are done on vacation, the next day you find some way to keep going!
Did you luck into this or did you know about it as part of your itinerary. It must have been a sensational experience. Th at museum was over the top!!
What a wonderful, fun experience. I bet your feet were done:)
Roussel is very accessible, isn’t he? Kind of for the “I don’t know about art but I know what I like” folk.
As for the light festivals at night, they are a thing in various places in Australia too. Winter is a favourite time. Interesting, as so many town councils and governments espouse lower greenhouse emissions. I just hope they are all using solar power for the lights, otherwise itsort of cancels out any gains from those times they tell us to turn off the electricity and run candles for the night, doesn’t it?
Museums and public galleries here, too, have been having evening events , in order to woo the young adults. I suppose they are hoping to get more philanthropic patrons that way. Still, it’s a nice alternative for a date.
Jeanie, what an amazing night, I would love to see the street parties, and the museum’s architecture is beyond beautiful. But the Paris architecture is all amazing!
Such a beautiful building, one I have never visited. Oh Jeanie, the streets of Paris must have been so alive and thrilling with people and music. I can relate to your tired feet too! I am enjoying all your travel posts......
It looks very exciting to be out at night. I've only been to Paris once but your posts make me want to go again.
Well of course, I couldn't resist the chance to join you for the biggest street party in Paris! It looks such a fun affair, and being in Paris tres chic!
We have a White Night in Melbourne with lots of cultural events, performers and illuminations. The last one I went to I cheated and got my whole house full of Japanese guests up at 4am to be there at the end and see the sunrise!
What fun.
Wren x
The Petit Palais is far from Petit! ;) I have never been inside this museum but the building looks as beautiful as the art it houses! This street party sounds like quite a thing to experience. It reminds me of "Fete de la Musique" which is a 24 hour music festival in June. There are concerts all over the city. It was such a cool thing to experience when I was there in 2008!
I'm so sorry about your sore feet, though!
What a memorable experience in Paris. I think your night photos are wonderful, the reflect the mood of the evening perfectly.
That sounds so cool for museums to stay open all night. I'm normally not much of a night person, but I could definitely go for that.
Sounds interesting but to be honest - I don't like crowded places so I;m not sure if I would feel comfortable there :\
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